When tools become distractions

My Experience with the Gear Trap

I can’t even count how much time I’ve spent searching for the perfect tool. Whether it was a dream camera (Ricoh GR, Fujifilm x100v , Leica M) a synthesizer promising endless possibilities (OP-1 , Moog) or a productivity app supposedly designed to organize my life (Notion, Obsidian…), I often believed these tools would change everything. Yet, over time, I realized that this pursuit was pulling me away from what truly matters: practicing, improving, and creating.

Looking back on my journey, I noticed a recurring pattern. Eventually, I came to understand an obvious truth: tools can never replace the time and energy invested in one’s art or craft.

Still, even with that awareness, avoiding the trap isn’t always easy because several mechanisms and cognitive biases are at play:
• Optimism bias, which led me to overestimate the impact a new tool would have on my performance.
• The Dunning-Kruger effect, which gave me a false sense of ease when starting something new, underestimating the practice needed to master a skill and mistakenly believing that the tool was a magical solution.
• Lastly, I fell into a form of entertainment and disguised procrastination—spending time choosing or setting up tools. This activity, less demanding than actual work, became an occupation in itself. It gave me an immediate sense of pleasure, a feeling of progress, but it wasn’t leading me in the right direction. In hindsight, this habit distracted me from my true goals: practicing and creating.

This last point is amplified by social media, where influencers showcase videos or content focused on reviewing “amazing” products that will undoubtedly make everything easier or even revolutionize your craft. Ultimately, acquiring gear perpetuates the cycle, giving us instant gratification in the form of dopamine tied to the illusion of progress.

But there’s no secret: to move toward your goal, you must embrace uncertainty and do the hard work. It’s tough, and regular practice is essential. Tools only come into play later, to amplify the work already done—they can never replace it.

It’s better to start with the bare essentials and focus on action above all else.

By adopting a more intentional and minimalist approach, I try to avoid wasting time and energy on material distractions. I regularly remind myself of what truly matters: working, creating, learning, and improving.